Descriptive Summary
Thomas, James Waller
Thomas, James Waller Papers
[1850s-1890s]
Materials are written in English.
2002-113
5 in.
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin
An early Texas newspaperman, James
Waller Thomas served as editor of the Clarksville Messenger. While living in Clarksville, he held posts as assistant
postmaster, postmaster, and mayor of Clarksville. In 1859 Thomas moved to
McKinney in Collin County, where he served as postmaster from 1866-1887 and as
county treasurer. There he also started the McKinney Messenger, which was the first newspaper in the county. The Thomas
papers include correspondence, newspapers, deeds, documents, and
photographs.
Biographical Sketch
James Waller Thomas, born in Missouri in 1826, moved to Texas in 1846. He married
Mary William Smith, daughter of a prominent family in Clarksville, Texas. An early
Texas newspaperman, Thomas served as editor of the Clarksville Messenger. While living in Clarksville, he held posts as assistant
postmaster, postmaster, and mayor of Clarksville. In 1859 Thomas moved to
McKinney in Collin County, where he served as postmaster from 1866-1887 and as
county treasurer. There he also started the McKinney Messenger, which was the first newspaper in the county. Thomas was a
close friend of Sam Houston and an avid Unionist. He served in the Texas Legislature
during Reconstruction, where he was an outspoken Republican. When his political
enemies burned down his newspaper office, Thomas continued to print the Messenger in his barn on butcher paper. Thomas died
November 8, 1906.
Scope and Contents
The James Waller Thomas Papers, 1850s-1890s, are comprised of Thomas' personal
correspondence between 1849 and 1867, as well as portions of eleven
issues of the McKinney Messenger and one issue of the
Shreveport, Louisiana, South-Western. Also included are deeds and documents concerning the Thomas family, their businesses,
and farming. Additionally, a Fifth Texas Cavalry Muster Roll and other documents
pertaining to the Confederate Army in 1864 are included. The papers also contain
photos of James Thomas, his wife Mary W. Smith Thomas, and their family, circa 1890.
Furthermore, the papers contain a photographic copy of a daguerreotype of Sam
Houston given to Thomas by Houston.
Access Restrictions
Unrestricted access.
Use Restrictions
Unrestricted use.
Index Terms
Subjects (Persons)
Thomas, James Waller, 1826-1906--Archives.
Thomas, Mary W. Smith
Houston, Sam, 1793-1863
Subjects (Organizations)
Clarksville Messenger
McKinney Messenger
Texas. Legislature
Confederate States of America. Army. Cavalry. Texas
Regiment, 5th
Subjects
Newspapers--Texas
Newspapers--Louisiana--Shreveport
Newspaper editors--Texas--Clarksville
Newspaper editors--Texas--McKinney
Farming--Texas
Postmasters--Texas--History
Places
Clarksville (Tex.)
McKinney (Tex.)
Shreveport (La.)
Preferred Citation
James Waller Thomas Papers, [1850s-1890s], Dolph Briscoe Center for American History,
The University of Texas at Austin.
Related Material
See also the Thomas (James
P., Sr.) Papers, 1898, 1928.
See also the Houston (Sam)
Papers, 1814-1957.
See also the Houston (Samuel, Jr.) Papers.
Detailed Description of the Papers
Inventory
3C63
Personal Correspondence
3C63
Legal Deeds and Documents
3C63
Newspaper clippings, photocopies
2.325/OD 12
Confederate States of America, Martins Regiment of Texas
Cavalry
3So14b
Photos
3So14b
James Thomas
3So14b
Mary Thomas
3So14b
Thomas Family at home in Sherman, Tex.
3So14b
Sam Houston